Folding table



Jan. 1 :1 19360 I M. R. NELSON FOLDING TABLE Filed March 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l M k a M M NM M R O T N E v N mkw@ ATTORN EY Jana 141 ,1936, I M, R NELSON I ZJUZZQQQ FOLDING TABLE Filed March 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO RN EY Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATS TENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to tables, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which is especially adapted for supporting in open position books and other manuscripts of large sizes so that copying and other similar work may be conveniently carried out by a person either standing or sitting and provides a device which may be readily set up for use and may be folded into a compact device for storage when desired.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means movably mounted on a stand to provide a table top on which books and other work may rest so that a person standing or sitting in one place in front of the device can readily shift the table top laterally in either direction to bring a desiredbook or piece of work into position for inspection, copying therefrom, or for making entries therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the inclination of the table top may be varied to meet the different working conditions without interfering with the sliding movement or the adjustment of the table top.

With these and other objects in View, this invention consists in certain novel features of con struction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, illustrating a folding table constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View showing the means of permitting adjustment of the brace to give desired leg room under the stand of the table.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing an auxiliary support of the stand in a folded position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view take on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l indicates a stand consisting of pairs of legs 2 of telescopic construction and the legs of each pair connected by members 3 forming a part of a work rest 4. The pairs of legs are further connected by braces 5 paralleling the members 3 and to which is adjustably connected a brace 6 underlying the work rest 4 and which may be shifted on the braces 5 in the direction of either side edge of the work rest for the purpose of providing under the work rest knee room that may have its area increased or decreased. The telescopic sections of the legs may be adjusted vertically and held in any of their adjusted positions by set bolts 1 so that the work rest 4% may be raised or lowered for use by a person either standing or sitting.

The work rest t includes a pair of spaced horizontally arranged members 8 offset downwardly, as shown at 9, to form a space for the reception of the hinged portion of a book so that said book when in an open position may lie or rest evenly upon the members 8. The offset portions 9 are connected by strips to cooperating with said offset portions in receiving and supporting the hinge portion of a book.

The parts heretofore described are preferably constructed of pipes or tubing connected by T- couplings and Us. T-couplings are employed for connecting the legs to the braces 5, said braces being threaded to the T-couplings whereby the legs may be folded, as suggested in dotted lines by Figure 1, when desiring to render the device inoperative or for storage in a comparatively small space.

The brace 6 may be secured in any of its adjusted positions on the braces 5 by set bolts II.

An auxiliary support i2 may be provided at either end of the stand for accommodating. a typewriter, adding machine or like device. The auxiliary support i 2 consists of a top I3 secured to a staff M by arms H5. The lower end of the staff M is connected to the top by braces 16. An arm H is adjustably secured to the staff and adjustably secured to any one of the legs of the stand i. The auxiliary support may be raised and lowered with respect to the stand or the rest 3 thereof and may be turned about the leg to which it is attached so as to assume a desired position with respect tothe person using the device either standing or sitting. The arms l5 are adjustably secured to the staff Mwhereby said staff may be adjusted towards and from the top 83, the braces It being constructed to permit of the adjustment. A set bolt i8 is employed for securing the staff" in any of its adjusted positions;

Referring to my modified form of invention as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a stand I9 is provided wherein the legs thereof are of telescopic construction and may be secured in any of their adjusted positions by set bolts 20. The legs are arranged in pairs and are connected by braces 2!. The legs of each pair are connected by members 22 and said members are connected by members 23 and 24 arranged longitudinally of the stand.

A table top 25 is provided for the stand and includes sections 26 and 21 flanged at the edges thereof, as shown at 28. The flanges of each section all depend downwardly except one which is directed upwardly to act as a guard indicated by the character A in Figure 6. Supporting rails 29 and 30 are secured to the under faces of the sections 26 and 21 of the table top and couplings 3! hingedly and slidably connect the member 29 to the member 23. The member 29 slides upon antifriction rollers 3| carried by the members 22. A rearwardly extending arm 32 is secured to the member 29 and carries an anti-friction roller 33 which rides upon the member 24. The rear end of the arm 32 carries a sleeve 34 to slidably receive a curved arm 35 secured at one end to the member 30. By adjusting the arm 35 with respect to the sleeve 34 the inclination of the table top 25 may be varied. The arm 35 may be secured in any of its adjusted positions by a set bolt 36. The sections 26 and 21 of the table top are slightly spaced from one another so that the hinge portion of a book may be received therein while the covers of the book rest on the sections of the table top. The table top 25 can be readily adjusted longitudinally of the stand in either direction. Also the table top may have its inclination varied to suit difierent Working conditions by a person either standing or sittingin front of the stand. The auxiliary support described in connection with the stand shown in Figures 1 and 2 maybe applied to any one of the legs of the stand IS. The legs of the stand I9 being of telescopic construction, permits the table top to be raised and lowered.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A table comprising a stand including longitudinally and transversely arranged pairs of members, anti-friction rollers carried by the transverse members, a bar slidably supported by said rollers, means hingedly and slidably connecting said bar toone of the longitudinally extending members, a transversely arranged arm secured at one end to said bar, an antifriction roller carried by the arm and traveling on the other longitudinally extending member, a table top including elongated sections arranged in endwise relation and secured to said bar and connected to each other thereby to prevent said sections from having relative movement, and a curved arm secured to said table top and adjustably and slidably secured to the first-named arm.

MANVILLE R. NELSON. 

